Chapter Fourteen
"Mr. Klein, we've determined by the nerve biopsy we performed that you have what is known as adrenoleukodystrophy," Foreman began, noting the blank look the patient was giving him. "Adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD, is a genetic defect of the X chromosome which leads to progressive demyelination of the…" He could see the man's eyes turn glassy. "What I'm trying to say is that you have a disease which is affecting your nervous system and slowly destroying it. It's probably been active for years without you even knowing it. It is progressive. There are treatments, but there is no cure." Foreman paused, watching the man and his family taking in what he just said.
"Is this like MS?" Asked Mrs. Klein. "My Aunt Bertha had MS."
"It's very similar, Mrs. Klein." Foreman replied gently, wondering if 'Aunt Bertha' had been a carrier of X-ALD. He knew that women were almost always carriers, rarely victims of the disease.
Foreman spent the rest of the afternoon outlining what the patient and family could expect symptom-wise and various treatment options. Unfortunately, Mr. Klein's case was advanced to the point at which not many of the options would be very helpful. A thorough family history revealed several other members of the family to be affected or carriers of the disorder, so bone marrow transplant was effectively ruled out. Foreman placed Mr. Klein on the bone marrow donor transplant list anyway, perhaps he'd get lucky.
"On the up side, you've got a hell of a paper you could publish out of this! You've discovered an entire family tree of this stuff." Sometimes Foreman absolutely hated House. He'd already thought of that and tried to tell himself he was too humane to benefit from an entire family's pain. One wedding in the family had already been called off, others in the family were contemplating permanent contraception. The Kleins had been hit hard.
House knew what was going through Foreman's mind. "If you don't publish, how is medical science ever to progress? All human pain benefits someone, even if it's only us. But hey, we're the ones who will be able to help the next Joe Blow who wanders in here!"
Foreman didn't realize what he'd done until he saw House sprawled out on the floor, his hand reaching up to assess whether his jaw had been broken. Foreman was shocked at his momentary lack of control. At the same time the ache in his fist felt great. He turned and left House's office without another word.
This was just one more example, he thought, of his slide into the black hole that was House. Or so he thought. It scared the hell out of him. Yeah, he was competitive, but he didn't want to lose what made him human. Or had he lost it already? He didn't want to be another House, embittered, spiteful, manipulative at all costs. Jesus, what was happening to him?
Somehow he found himself at Wilson's door. Foreman knocked, and hearing a cheerful 'Come in', did just that. He stood staring at Wilson, not quite sure what he was there for.
"Hey, Foreman, what can I do for you?" Wilson looked up from his seemingly endless supply of paperwork and caught the desperation in the other man's face. "Ah, another Great White House attack? Have a seat." He motioned to the comfortable chair in front of his desk.
Foreman sat. He didn't like heart-to-heart talks though he couldn't tell you why. They just seemed so cheesy. Life isn't solved in half-hour sitcoms. It just keeps dragging on an on.
Wilson sat patiently waiting for Foreman to say whatever it was he wanted to say. He'd learned early on to just be patient, eventually it all came tumbling out.
"I do not want to become House." A simple statement of fact, boiled down from the reams of manuscript whirling around in his head.
"Even House doesn't want to be House." Wilson soothed. Foreman looked up at him, perplexed. Wilson sighed, "House is the product of genetics and conditioning. His genetics make him brilliant, his conditioning makes him an ass. You do not share his background nor his life view. He would have you believe you are no better, or in his terms - as good as, he is. Don't let go of your humanity, it's what sets you apart from House and he knows it. He is simply forcing you to face it," Wilson's voice became almost a whisper, "perhaps even show him how it's done."
Chapter Fifteen
House wasn't sure how much more of this he could watch. This whole thing was insane. His death's head cane (he had snuck back and purchased it after all) tapped on the floor in front of him, in rhythm with the horror show going on just below him.
Just an hour ago, he had presented himself to the front door of this seemingly innocuous residence dressed in white tie and tails, complete with top hat and, of course, the cane. He had been accepted into the inner sanctum by the few gathered as Chloe's Dominant. She was not happy. She didn't know he had inserted himself into this scene and was forced by convention to show him the obescience his status as 'her Dominant' required. He was so going to pay for that.
He had enjoyed the display. Chloe dressed quite ridiculously in a leather corset, lace thong, black transparent skirt which hid nothing and those fantastic stiletto boots. He watched as she knelt before him, her feet tucked up neatly under that lovely ass of hers, her legs spread wide for easy access. She held her back straight displaying her nearly naked breasts, her head up, but her eyes averted downward. Her hands lay palm up on her thighs. Damn.
She had waited until he spoke. "It is my understanding that my sub is here to redeem the contract of one Esi Dagomba. Is that correct, my pet?"
Chloe began her slow descent into her safe place deep inside her head, just one level up from subspace. Subspace was that most wondrous of places where her mind would be free to touch the mind of the other. But House was not the other and she needed to guard her innermost self. "That is correct, Sir. It is what I wish." Her voice was deep and other-worldly.
House watched this transformation with intense interest. "Then, by all means, you must have it." He caught the facial expressions of the two men on either side of Arthur.
They were all seated behind a long table as observers. Their expressions belied disapproval. These two were members of the Taken In Hand faction of the cell. They did not cater to the notion of the sub exercising any control whatsoever in the relationship. There were no safety nets for them, no give and take. For them the woman was property and treated as one would treat a fine collection of wine or coins. Not that their women disapproved. In point of fact, this higher level of dominance was what they craved and would fight for if necessary.
"However, your recklessness will be addressed later. It is not my practice to allow such liberties," he studied his fingernails, "I believe you are aware of that."
Chloe nodded her head, "Yes, Sir, I am aware. This one thanks you for your indulgence."
That seemed to have mollified the two observers.
House then turned his attention to Jason Adler who was costumed just as ridiculously, he thought. Leather pants, boots. Only a leather vest covered his soft torso. Adler was becoming impatient. "You, Sir, are the owner of said contract, is that correct?"
Jason nodded his head in the affirmative.
"I have decided to allow this transfer to take place with the firm understanding that you acknowledge my sole ownership of this one," he motioned to Chloe, "this one who has pledged her entire being, body and soul to me and me alone." Chloe could barely hear him any more. He'd done his homework, she was glad of that much. "I will not tolerate any permanent damage to my submissive. You may do whatever you deem necessary to satisfy your sense of loss, but there will be no exchange of body fluids, is that understood?"
Jason was not happy. The one thing he craved more than anything was to rape the shit out of Chloe, make her scream in pain and degradation in retaliation for all the humiliation she'd put him through.
"Understood. However, I am permitted foreign objects, yes? The leadership has, I believe, assented to this point."
House was sick at this, but couldn't refuse. It was part of the game. He knew it and he knew Chloe knew it. He watched her slide further into her self-protective oblivion.
"Within reason, yes." The fierce blue eyes nearly cut Jason Adler in two with the intense hatred they spewed.
With that the video recorder was turned on and Jason Adler made a statement to the effect that in payment for the loss of his slave, Esi Dagomba, he was, with the permission of the cell leadership and Chloe's Dominant, entitled to four hours here in the darkness of the dungeon to exact whatever tribute he desired from her. He also agreed to abandon any thoughts or acts of retribution against Esi and Dr. Robert Chase. Chloe was recorded as assenting. Then the video recorder was clicked off.
Chloe bowed her forehead to the cool stone floor in front of House and slowly rose, turning to approach the observers. She knelt in front of them, each in turn, and lightly kissed the boot they offered. This was her thanksgiving for their presence as witnesses of the proceedings.
She then knelt at the feet of Adler and without looking up at him, offered her neck as a silent sacrifice.
The blow came suddenly and with a force that actually surprised everyone. Everyone except Chloe. She landed on her side, her mouth bleeding, her face burning. Slowly, she crawled back to Adler's feet and resumed her position. Her eyes were not quite glassy yet, she could hold her head up still.
"You've cost me a hell of a lot of money, you bitch. You will pay." He slapped the other side of her face just as ferociously. Again she crawled back to his feet and resumed her position of submission.
Adler grabbed her by the arm and hoisted her to her feet, spinning her around and shoving her towards the St. Andrew's Cross in the center of the room. He shackled her wrists and ankles to the device and ripped off her skirt, throwing it in the general direction of House. It fluttered to the floor almost in slow motion.
There was no warm up, no time spent in useless foreplay. Adler grabbed a four foot cane he'd had imported from Thailand and began applying it with tremendous force to the tender flesh exposed to him. The sounds of flexible wood meeting skin echoed across the chamber, filling each one present with thoughts best left in their heads.
The angry welts immediately appeared and overlapped as stroke upon stroke was applied with a vengeance. Chloe fought hard to keep from screaming, a task not easily accomplished. House fought the squirming he was afraid would give him away. Finally, Chloe could hold back no longer and an anguished cry left her throat. The tears began to fall.
Adler threw the cane to the floor and approached Chloe, taking out a long, thin blade from its sheath tucked in his pant leg. House rose. Arthur held up a hand to House, then addressed Adler. "Jason… caution." Adler turned to House with a viciously wicked grin on his face. "Don't worry, old man, no permanent damage."
With a flick of the wrist, Adler slipped the knife up under the laces of Chloe's corset and sliced them neatly in two. The garment slid effortlessly to the floor. The knife was sheathed. House resumed his seat.
Adler pressed himself against Chloe's back, his hands reaching around to molest her alabaster breasts. She would leave here bruised and battered, if nothing else, of that he was sure. His fingers dug into her flesh as he bit down hard into her shoulder, drawing blood. She screamed and he sighed in delight. Adler whispered in her ear, "That old man over there can never show you what I can, Chloe. He doesn't have the salt. But then, maybe you two deserve each other, you're an old bitch after all, aren't you? A withered up old cow. AREN"T YOU?" He was screaming at her. "Yes," she replied, "yes I am."
He bit down hard on her other shoulder, once again drawing blood. He licked at the blood as though he were thirsty and had been in the desert for a long time. It seemed to inebriate him somehow. He released her ankles from the St. Andrew's Cross, then her wrists. She could barely stand. Adler was not about to assist her, so Arthur called for two 'sluts' to enter the room and assist their sister.
The two women entered and, after deeply curtsying to each man in the room in turn, approached Chloe and lifted her off the stone floor. Adler directed them to seat her on the sawhorse at one end of the room. He shackled her aching wrists again and pulled her arms high above her head. Her toes barely touched the floor so that most of her weight was on her genitals. The wood of the sawhorse was finely sanded, but unfinished. It was not comfortable.
The two women were instructed by Arthur to assume positions on the floor behind him, in case they were needed again. They were not allowed to watch the proceedings.
Adler produced a multi-strand leather flogger and began to whip Chloe. He took special pains, as it were, to concentrate on her breasts and open legs. The leather bit into her soft skin. She was glad he hadn't removed the thong yet. Not that it afforded much protection, but it did act as something of a barrier to the hard wood under her. She tried hard not to squirm around as that only made the pressure on her vulva that much more terrific. The beating continued until he could sense that she was getting numb. That would not do.
Adler strode over to the corner and grabbed a bucket of water he had placed there earlier. He splashed the ice cold water at Chloe to bring back any sensation she had lost to the beating. The cold water shocked her and she very nearly fainted. But her body was alive again, her nipples hard as pebbles and her entire being shivered.
He switched to a riding crop and brought it down mercilessly against those sensitive nipples. The smacking and popping sounds mingled with her grunts and cries. He worked over her entire body, once again creating angry red slash marks. Some bled slightly, some did not. He didn't care. He was going to make her scream if it was the last thing he did on this earth.
Walking around behind, Adler slowly slid the sawhorse out from under her. Her body was covered with sweat which beaded along her brow and dripped, stinging, into her eyes. She was just able to make out the form of House seated across the room. He had his best poker face on, but she knew this was nauseating to him. She hung her head, wishing for all the world he wasn't so damned stubborn. But, then again, isn't that why she was here?
The wooden paddle came down hard on her already reddened ass. The sting was almost unbearable. Adler laid into her with all his might until he heard one of the things he'd been waiting to hear. "Stop, please, stop!" Chloe cried out. He stopped, maneuvering himself in front of her. His erection was plainly visible to all and he pressed it hard against Chloe's belly. He reached around her grabbing her ass cheeks and kneading them roughly. She groaned and begged him again to stop. Once more the stiletto dagger came out of its sheath and he made quick work of her black lace thong. "That's been on there far too long!" He breathed into her ear.
The cool air whispered around her swollen labia, offering comfort and, had it been the right occasion and the right person, arousal. But it wasn't and Chloe willed herself to feel nothing. Adler applied a spreader bar to Chloe's ankles, which spread her legs wide apart. Her feet were flat on the floor, but her balance was off and a great deal of her weight was being supported by her wrists.
Adler dug in his bag and produced probably the biggest and most horrendous looking dildo Chloe had ever seen. He also proceeded to remove a butt plug from the bag. Now things would get ugly.
He approached her with a leer any pedophile would recognize and walked around behind her. Without so much as a 'by your leave' he slammed the plug into her vagina to lubricate it, then shoved it home into her tight anal orifice. She screamed and tried desperately to relax. The burn filled her belly and streaked down her legs. Adler laughed out loud. "That's how I treat bitches who piss me off!" He hissed into her ear.
He then found a gag he liked. It was in the shape of a large penis and about two inches long. He shoved it in her mouth and secured it around her head with the attached leather straps. She knew she would have to concentrate on breathing now, trying very hard not to allow her nose to become occluded.
Then he began his task. The dildo was rammed into her vagina with force and speed. He used all his strength to force it into her as far as it would go, then remove it an insert it again. He pulled his own penis out of his pants and began to rub himself with his free hand. Arthur immediately stopped him. "Jason… remember your agreement." Adler demanded the 'sluts' service him and Arthur agreed. The two women fell about their task with gusto, licking and sucking until finally Adler shot his load all over their faces. He turned back to Chloe and slapped her several times across the face.
"Thirty minutes, Jason." Came the voice of Arthur. House was thinking it couldn't end soon enough. He'd had all he could stand of this 'lifestyle'.
Adler barely acknowledged Arthur as he busied himself pinching various parts of Chloe's body with clothespins. Her nipples, tongue, labia and even her clit. He then spent the next twenty minutes beating Chloe with whatever he could lay his hands on.
Tears streaked down her face, her body was lined with the marks of his fury. Sweat trickled to the floor. Finally he had spent himself. "Time." Arthur stated rather flatly. The two women were once again summoned to release Chloe from her confinement and take her to an adjoining room.
Adler put away his 'kit' and prepared to leave. As he turned around, he was faced with the specter of a man at least a half a foot taller and quite angry. House took a step closer to him and he backed up. Another step forward, another step back. Adler's face collapsed in fear. House never said a word, merely let his body language speak the volumes he dared not allow himself. Finally, House placed the skull end of his cane in the middle of Adler's chest and gave him one final push. Adler stepped back and stumbled over the bucket that had held the water he had splashed over Chloe.
House turned and left the building. No one assisted Adler to his feet.
Outside the house, three FBI agents waited for Jason Adler to exit. Alexander had finally decided to help himself and had corroborated all the evidence they already had on Adler.
In the basement, Chloe's friends tenderly administered the care she needed. She would remain there for two days, alternating between a dream world and the pain of reality. She had done what she felt she had to do and was satisfied.
House prowled his surroundings, alternating himself between anger and anguish. Chloe was too smart for this nonsense. He wasn't sure how or what he felt other than outraged. He wasn't even sure who he was most angry with, Adler or Chloe.
Things would never be the same between them.